WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A three person arbitration panel has ruled in favor of West Springfield for its surrounding community agreement with MGM Springfield.

The panel, by a 3-0 vote, agreed that West Springfield should receive $425,000 per year, $375,000 of that is an impact payment that will increase each year, based on the consumer price index (CPI).

West Springfield will receive $665,000 upfront for the Memorial Avenue engineering design to repair/replace this road, plus payments for consultant costs (likely around $150k).

MGM offered annual payments of $100,000 with an upfront payment of $125,000, according to West Springfield mayor Edward Sullivan.

West Springfield town councilor, Brian Griffin, told 22News “We are clearly the most impacted community or we have felt that, and it was affirmed by the arbiters that we were. The people who will benefit are the individuals of West Springfield.”

MGM Springfield Spokesman Carole Brennan sent 22News this statement:

“While MGM respects West Springfield’s advocacy and both the arbitrators’ and the town’s work in this matter, we are disappointed with the arbitration decision. We will continue to seek a fair and equitable outcome, as we have done with all our surrounding communities, and look forward to discussing the terms of the agreement before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in the coming weeks.”

MGM has one final surrounding community agreement to reach. Arbitrators will decide between Longmeadow and the casino developer by Wednesday. They have already reached agreements with Holyoke, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Chicopee, Agawam and East Longmeadow.